Kigali — New tourism products for vacation pursuits are soon to be branded, a senior official with Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) has said. Fidel Ruzigandekwe, the Executive Director of Rwanda Wildlife Authority, a directorate of ORTPN, said that the inventive products will include diverse segments of the tourism industry like bird watching in different wetlands and night game driving in Akagera Park.

Others are boat riding on lakes Ihema and Kivu for tourists to track some water-based wildlife, and cavern tourism.

"We have variety of tourism potentials that still require identification and proper packaging for regional and international tourism market" Ruzigandekwe told The New Times in an exclusive interview Friday, December 15.

He also underlined the significance of conserving and promoting nature-based tourism.

Without giving details, Ruzigandekwe said there are several heritage sites that had been identified for private developing.

Asked when the new products would be unveiled Ruzigandekwe said: "I can't state the exact date for all of them, but some will be ready next year. Even though developing them is a gradual process."

Regarding the newly identified 221 species of orchid plant, Ruzigandekwe said that a documentary is being compiled for the public and, regional and international marketing.

"This compiled documentary will help us portray the value of these orchid plant species for tourism purposes. After they are entirely recognised that's when many tourists will be attracted to visit their localities," he said.

He implored public to adhere on conservation of biodiversity saying that it is a pillar of tourism.

"Without conservation tourism won't survive." He attributed the massive destruction of wildlife to people's inadequate knowledge about the current and future values of some animals and plants.